In May, Illinois Meetings + Events announced the winners of the Best of Illinois readers’ choice awards and the Hall of Fame inductees at our annual event that welcomed industry personnel from all over the state. Festivities were held at Rock Bottom Brewery’s upstairs event space with appetizers and signature cocktails provided by the restaurant and desserts courtesy of the Blue Man Group.

The tides are turning with new venues in Chicago, with some of the most creative spaces we’ve seen opening in recent years. The brand-new Shore Club is one of those standouts. The seasonal structure, placed square on the sand near North Avenue Beach and with floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of Lake Michigan, evokes a coastal vacation feeling many would travel to exotic locations to find—but is right in our own backyard.

Olympia Hotel Management has been chosen to manage Hyatt Place & Hyatt House Quad Cities in East Moline, Illinois. The showcase hotel project features the 134-room Hyatt Place hotel and 99-room Hyatt House hotel.

Sandi Robinson strongly believes that meetings are not just about business but also an opportunity to create an inspiring experience. Having worked in the hospitality industry since she was 16 years old, Robinson knows that the people and ideas behind a meeting can make or break it—after all, a boring meeting can’t be blamed on the space or topic.

Just before its opening, Hotel EMC2, part of Autograph Collection Hotels, has announced its brand-new executive team. The first of its kind, the hotel celebrates the melding of art and science through its design, cuisine and guest experience. The team includes: Christine Wechter, general manager; Brandon Brumback, executive chef; Rebecca Royster, director of food and beverage; Stefanie Rowe, director of sales and marketing; Alexander Foster, director of rooms; and Yesenia Salas, human resources manager.